Idaho jockey Gary Stevens told the House State Affairs Committee this morning, “You see a man who was inspire and shaped by my community.” To applause, he said, “I do not want Les Bois Park to stand vacant.” “Small, medium, large tracks across the country...
Paul J. Schneider, chairman of the Idaho State Racing Commission, said if you go to Les Bois Park on a Wednesday night, there are lots of people betting on simulcasts of live horse races. “The problem is they don’t bet very much – they only...
Helo Hancock, legislative liaison for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, told the Senate State Affairs Committee this morning, “We are here today because there has been an unparalleled expansion of casino gaming in Idaho under the façade of wagering on horse races.” He said the way…
A shetland pony wearing a "service animal" sash is among those who have turned out for this morning's "instant racing" repeal hearing. It's from "Personal Ponies," a non-profit group that places ponies with disabled kids; Aaden Vranish, shown here with the pony, has three ponies...
A large crowd of horse racing enthusiasts has turned out for this morning's "instant racing" repeal hearing; here, people file into the scheduled meeting room WW55, which soon filled, prompting the hearing to be moved to the larger Lincoln Auditorium across the hall. SB 1011…
On tonight’s “Idaho Reports,” I join Jim Weatherby, Kimberlee Kruesi, and co-hosts Aaron Kunz and Melissa Davlin to discuss the events of the fourth week of the legislative session, from the Idaho Education Network to Medicaid expansion to abortion, guns and gambling. The show also…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The legal team that successfully fought to overturn Idaho's ban on gay marriage has filed paperwork seeking an additional $300,000 in court costs. Boise attorney and lead counsel Deborah Ferguson filed the three-page…
The Idaho State Liquor Division is on track for another record year in 2015, the division reported to legislative budget writers Friday, in part because of cross-border buyers from Washington, who now account for a steady 7 percent of the division’s sales. Before Washington voters…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The head of Idaho's House Transportation and Defense Committee says Idahoans will be unable to use their driver's licenses to board commercial flights in 2016 because current state law prohibits complying with federal…
A new sales tax exemption for public road materials would cost the state general fund $15 million to $20 million per year – but Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence reports that the idea is that the money would indirectly go to the Idaho Transportation Department,…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho lottery officials are bracing for a $10 million shortfall in ticket sales this year, due to large national and statewide drops in both Powerball and MegaMillions jackpot earnings. State Lottery Director Jeff...
Legislation introduced today would move Idaho’s presidential primary election to March to give the state more early impact in presidential races. But the measure’s estimated cost of $2 million to the state’s taxpayers may doom its chances. “That was the estimate we got from the...
Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, co-chair of the joint legislative interim committee that spent two years studying how the state could take over federal lands, said at a news conference today that lawmakers concluded they don’t want to do that. “We found that pursuing any type...
Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, proposed new legislation this morning designed to limit controversial “instant racing” machines to three locations – Les Bois Park, the Greyhound Park Event Center in Post Falls, and Sandy Downs racetrack near Idaho Falls. His bill would require the slot...
New Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra has changed her teacher pay proposal for next year again, telling the House and Senate Education committees today that she wants all teachers to get 3 percent raises next year. Idaho EdNews reporter Clark Corbin reports that as…
Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center and a law professor at George Washington University, told an audience of state and federal judges, lawyers, lawmakers, students and more at today’s Darrington Lecture on Law and Government that what his center in Philadelphia...
Gov. Butch Otter, who is recovering from hip replacement surgery, spoke by phone to his newly convened IEN Working Group this afternoon, urging it to come up with a solution to the legal and financial mess surrounding the Idaho Education Network before the end of…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today’s stormy budget hearing on the Idaho Education Network, at which leery lawmakers grilled Otter Administration officials about how they plan to resolve the legal and financial mess surrounding the IEN, the statewide broadband network…
The Senate Commerce Committee agreed unanimously today to introduce legislation re-alphebetizing definitions in Idaho’s state code and rules governing purchasing. “It makes it more user-friendly for everyone to use,” Bill Burns, head of the state Purchasing Division, told the senators. The change arose from a...
This afternoon at 4, in the Idaho Supreme Court’s courtroom, will be the annual Denton Darrington Lecture on Law and Government. This year’s speaker is Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, professor of law at George Washington University Law School, and…
Idaho has skipped “hundreds of millions” in federal health care funding that the state’s taxpayers were due, because the state hasn’t expanded its Medicaid program, Idaho Statesman reporter Bill Dentzer reports; his full story is online here. Members of Gov. Butch Otter’s Medicaid redesign working…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A legislative panel introduced new legislation today aimed at restricting medication-induced abortions in Idaho, including requiring in-person counseling and an examination before the medication is prescribed. The House State Affairs Committee voted to…
Gov. Butch Otter announced today that former Sen. John Goedde, now an Otter aide, will head a 20-member working group to chart a path forward for the Idaho Education Network, and the new panel will meet today at 3 in the Senate Majority Caucus Room....
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho residents would be able to carry concealed weapons without a permit under a new bill introduced by the House State Affairs Committee on Thursday. Greg Pruett with the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance...
Idaho lawmakers took a moment to recall a piece of Idaho history today, as the Idaho Historical Society, after its budget presentation to JFAC, unveiled two historic artifacts: The original register of votes from the 1896 election that approved a state constitutional amendment granting women...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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